Economy Exterminators - Ants

Economy Exterminators is North Carolina's first choice for ant prevention and ant pest control.

Ants are among the most important pest problems for both residential and commercial facilities.

Ants can be a nuisance of a pest, can damage property and can even cause people potentially serious health complications, as in the case of Fire Ants.

It is very important to know which species of Ant you are dealing with since their habits vary greatly.

Choose your Ant below to learn more.

Odorous Ants Odorous Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Odorous Ants will usually be seen in large numbers - brownish-black in color. Workers are 1/12 to 1/8 inches long. They are sometimes confused with the Argentine Ants. One way to tell them apart is that the single node on the pedicel (the connector between the thorax and abdomen) is not visible from above, being hidden by the abdomen. However, they are most easily identified by the coconut odor given off when the ant is crushed. WHEN IN DOUBT, EXAMINE THIS ANT UNDER A MICROSCOPE OR OTHER MAGNIFIYING APPARATUS TO IDENTIFY. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Odorous Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.

Fire Ants Fire Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Fire Ants are native to Brazil and presents a serious pest problem from the southern United States to Virginia. This ant gets its name from its ability to inflict painful bites and stings. Fire Ants vary in size from 1/16 to1/4 inches long. They have a reddish-brown head and thorax with a black abdomen. The pedicel or "waist" of the imported fire ant consists of 2 segments. Their preferred nesting sites are areas where soil has been excavated. Mounds are built of soil and are seldom larger than 18 inches in diameter. When a mound is disturbed, the ants emerge aggressively to bite and sting the intruder. A white pustule usually appears the next day at the site of the sting. The sting that they inflict can be of serious concern since about 2% of the population of the US is at risk of anaphylactic shock. This species is steadily moving northward. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Fire Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.

Argentine Ants Argentine Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Argentine Ants will usually be in large numbers, light to dark brown in color. The workers are 1/12 to 1/8 inches long; queens are much larger - 1/6 to 1/4 inches long. This insect is native to Argentina and most probably was transported by ships to New Orleans in the 19th century. One needs a microscope to correctly identify this insect. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Argentine Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.

Black Carpenter Ants Black Carpenter Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Carpenter Ants will usually be in large numbers, the color is brownish-black, workers are 1/8 to 1/2 inches long but vary greatly in size. They come in several color forms. Some are completely black, some are reddish, and some are a combination of red and black. They are some of the largest of the ants that we have in this area. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Carpenter Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.